Introduction to The Rock’s Gut-Health Issue
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson had a digestive issue that he couldn’t kick — and no answers in sight.
Johnson, one of WWE and Hollywood’s biggest stars, opened up about his health journey during a recent conversation with the man who saw him through to the other side in Dr. Mark Hyman.
The 53-year-old, after years of dealing with the gut issue, had a conversation with former agent and longtime business partner Ari Emanuel about it at the end of 2023.
The Initial Struggle
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson speaks on his gut-health issues. The Mark Hyman Show/YouTube
“He’s like, ‘What’s going on?’ I said, ‘I’ve seen doctors and I can’t quite nail it. I can’t quite fix it. It’s in my digestion,” Johnson said during “The Mark Hyman Show.” “I feel great — and that’s the odd thing — but I just can’t crack it.’”
Emanuel, the CEO of Endeavor and WWE’s parent company, TKO, mentioned seeing Hyman, who practices functional medicine.
Seeking Help from Dr. Mark Hyman
The two eventually connected for a virtual visit.
Johnson admitted he knew nothing about functional medicine, which, according to the Institute for Functional Medicine, provides a framework to systematically identify and address the underlying processes and dysfunctions that are causing imbalance and disease in each individual.
“You said, very succinctly, ‘I’m not going to treat your symptoms. I’m going to go deeper than that and treat the root cause of what’s going on,’” Johnson said. “And I said, ‘I love that.’”
The Treatment Process
The treatment began in early 2024, with Johnson set to begin his “Final Boss” run to WrestleMania 40 with WWE. Getting to what was holding Johnson back took some heavy digging, Hyman noted. They did blood panels and a stool test, among other things, to get to the source of the problem.
Johnson was in for a grueling year with WWE commitments, the release of “Red One” and “Moana 2,” and filming for his upcoming movie “The Smashing Machine.”
“That was at the beginning of 2024, and I was just getting ready to launch into what would become a nine-month workload for me — nonstop work,” Johnson said. “And I was thinking, ‘Holy s–t, how am I going to get through this with my gut issues? I’m not digesting properly.’”
Dwayne Johnson attends the “Moana 2” UK Premiere at Cineworld Leicester Square on November 24, 2024 in London, England. Getty Images
Finding the Root Cause
Luckily, Hyman was able to provide Johnson some relief, finding the issue began after he took multiple rounds of antibiotics, which messed with the bacteria in his gut. He was missing Akkermansia, which coats the lining of the intestine and protects from inflammation and a leaky gut, Hyman said.
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and John Cena fight during Night 2 at Lincoln Financial Field on April 7, 2024 in Philadelphia. Getty Images
The Solution
“We basically rehabbed your gut. Gave you probiotics and plant compounds—pomegranate, green tea, cranberry — to help rebuild it,” Hyman said. “And we made you this amazing gut health shake with 10-plus ingredients personalized for you.”
Johnson hasn’t wrestled in WWE since, but was the catalyst for John Cena’s heel turn earlier this year.
Conclusion
Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson’s journey to resolving his gut-health issue is a testament to the importance of seeking the right medical help and understanding the root cause of health problems. With the guidance of Dr. Mark Hyman, Johnson was able to find relief and improve his overall health.
FAQs
- Q: What was Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson’s health issue?
A: Johnson had a digestive issue that he couldn’t resolve, affecting his gut health. - Q: Who helped Johnson with his health issue?
A: Dr. Mark Hyman, a practitioner of functional medicine, helped Johnson identify and treat the root cause of his issue. - Q: What was the root cause of Johnson’s health issue?
A: The issue began after Johnson took multiple rounds of antibiotics, which disrupted the bacteria in his gut, leading to a lack of Akkermansia. - Q: How was Johnson’s gut health treated?
A: Hyman provided Johnson with probiotics, plant compounds, and a personalized gut health shake to help rebuild his gut health.
